SHNF Recreational Hub: Sam Houston National Forest Recreational Hub

Abstract

The forested landscape has always been of great fascination to me. The mysterious environment is rich with native flora and fauna and contains a great deal of beauty. Many associate the forest with a dark and dangerous place, but I hold a different view and appreciation for the spaces within. Being surrounded by large, waving trees, natural sounds, and soft light filtering through the canopy instills a sense of calm and allows for a deeper connection with nature. To me, the forest provides an escape from everyday life and opens up a new world to discover and admire. I believe that everyone deserves the right to explore, experience, and value this environment to the highest extent. The natural environment is a crucial resource that should be preserved and elevated to the highest extent, especially at the junction of the natural and the built. How can architecture uphold the values of environmental integration with design space, as well as aid in the knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of environmental resources? In the current era of environmental and ecological destruction, it is more important than ever to highlight the environment around us and reveal its subtle, natural beauty. Forests were once the building blocks of human society, yet today fall victim to that society's exploitation at an increasingly alarming rate.